The Minnesota Department of Transportation hosted a public meeting on Thursday in Winona to discuss the Highway 43 interstate bridge project.
                  
Representatives from MnDOT were on hand to answer questions and provide information about their recommendation to construct a new two-lane bridge parallel to the existing Highway 43 bridge, which will be rehabbed.
                   
One of the biggest impacts of the new bridge on the Winona side of the Mississippi River will be acquiring property to make way for the new landing approach.

John Paulson, Real Estate Senior Representative for MnDOT, says their are about 30 properties, including homes and businesses’, that will need to be moved to make way.

Paulson says the effected properties will start at the bridge approach and run to 4th Street and Huff Street.

Paulson says property owners will be contacted early next year about aquirring the land.     
                     
The current timeline has actual construction earmarked to start in 2015.

MnDOT officials said the entire project, including the rehab of the existing bridge, is expected to take three years.